Letters to the editor on child-abuse prevention, casino, missing news, Revolutionary War memorial

Kansas Children’s Service League serves as the Prevent Child Abuse America chapter for Kansas, and we encourage all Kansans to “plant” blue pinwheels all over their communities this April. Blue pinwheels represent the effort to change the way our nation thinks about prevention, focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize prevention right from the start.

Kansas Children’s Service League serves as the Prevent Child Abuse America chapter for Kansas, and we encourage all Kansans to “plant” blue pinwheels all over their communities this April. Blue pinwheels represent the effort to change the way our nation thinks about prevention, focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize prevention right from the start.

All children should be raised in healthy, nurturing homes, free from abuse and neglect. We must work to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to grow and develop. Adverse childhood experiences such as child abuse and neglect often have lifetime consequences. By making a commitment to strengthen families during the years from birth to 5, we help children during a critical period in their development.

Programs and strategies such as quality early education, home visitation, parent education and mental health services all play a role in strengthening families. Strengthening families is the best investment we can make for the future. Providing prevention programs early is less costly for our society than trying to fix child abuse later.

The Pinwheels for Prevention campaign is flourishing in Kansas and across the nation as more than 2.3 million pinwheels will be distributed nationwide in April. When you see blue pinwheels spinning in the Kansas breeze, please be reminded of what you can do to help strengthen families and communities.

DONA BOOE

President and CEO

Kansas Children’s Service League

Topeka

Casino gives back

Since the Kansas Star Casino opened in December 2011, it has been generating more revenues than originally expected, and it keeps giving back to the community.

One example are the scholarships it grants for high school graduates in Sumner County. These scholarships are a great incentive for those in our young generation to continue their studies and prepare for their work lives. Also, the casino profits have helped reduce the mill levy for city residents and lower their energy rates.

I hope this will continue, and that we can all keep advancing as a modern community while having some fun.

GLORIA HILDRETH

Derby

Missing news

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., stated Wednesday that he thinks the Obama administration health care law is headed for a “train wreck.” He challenged Kathleen Sebelius, our former governor and the current health and human services secretary, by stating, “You need to fix this.”

Though this reaction, even from a Democrat, is becoming more common, it was surprising that this was not reported in the next day’s Eagle. This was another example of the left-leaning journalism community in our country.

JUDY ZIMMERMAN

Wichita

Finish memorial

The opening battle of the American Revolutionary War began April 19, 1775. The day before, 700 Redcoats had marched through the night to reach Lexington, Mass. Paul Revere was on the north shore waiting to see if his associate would hang a one- or two-lantern signal in the steeple of the Old North Church in Boston. He then headed off to Lexington. Awaiting the Redcoats as they reached Lexington at dawn were 77 Minutemen, farmers and laborers trained to be “ready in a minute.” At the North Bridge near Concord, 400 Minutemen exchanged gunfire with 120 Redcoats. The war had begun. As a result, April 19 is known as Patriots’ Day.

At Wichita’s Veterans Memorial Park, the American Revolutionary War Memorial symbolizing this event is in its infancy. The base and surrounding wall are poured but now wait for members of the public to immortalize their own family patriot, their favorite Revolutionary hero or a special battle. This educational memorial will allow future generations to learn about the patriots who fought for our freedom and our rights. Visit www.amrevwm.com to see how you can help complete this memorial.